In a Dodge Diplomat, a soccer mom feels positively patrician

by Borgna Brunner

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Do you like the image of yourself driving a Chevrolet Suburban or a Dodge Viper, a Jeep Cherokee or a Lexus GS 430?

While all marketers work hard to come up with names that attract consumers, the automobile industry goes into overdrive when attempting to capture the fantasies of car buyers. A car name can make a driver feel rich, powerful, sophisticated, sporty, adventurous, rugged, or downright dangerous—who wouldn't feel like king of the road in a Mercury Marauder or a Chevrolet Avalanche? Below are some of the more inventive car names and the images they attempt to convey: